The proposed bills placed in the parliament on November 17 over reformation of zila parishads of three Chittagong hill districts were a violation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, opined the speakers at a human chain yesterday.
‘Nagarik Samaj’ arranged the human chain at capital’s Shahbagh in front of the National Museum to protest the zila parishad reformation bills.
Pankaj Bhattacharya, chairman of ‘Nagarik Samaj’, said the peace treaty had clearly mentioned about consulting hill leaders before changing any law about the hill tracts but the proposed bills violated that clause.
Also present in the human chain, Mejbah Kamal, professor of Dhaka University said the government must fully implement 33 agreements set by the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace Accords.
“If they are the citizens of Bangladesh and hill tracts are parts of Bangladesh, then they must be given equal rights just like every citizen of the country,” said Khushi Kabir.
The participants put forward four demands to the government including withdrawing the Zila Parishad amendment bills, preparing voter list in consultation with local people, taking initiative for zila parishad elections and handing over administrative power to the elected representative, and immediate implementation of the peace treaty.
The human chain, moderated by Razib Mir, was attended by Robayet Ferdous, Sanjeeb Drong, K S Mong, Noman Ahmed Khan, Chanchana Chakma and Nilufar Banu among others.
